The Sea Restaurant & Bar Peruvian Cuisine — Restaurant in Fairfax

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I recently had the pleasure of dining at "The Sea - Restaurant and Lounge," a Peruvian restaurant nestled in a charming corner of a small shopping center in Fairfax, Virginia. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this place had something special to offer.

First off, parking was a breeze with ample free parking in the vicinity. The best part? No waiting time! I visited on a vibrant evening when they were hosting free salsa and merengue lessons on Thursdays, and I was pleasantly surprised that there was no line at all.

Watching people learn to dance under the guidance of the professional Peruvian dancer, Isabel Acevedo, was an absolute treat. Her credentials as a winner of a Peruvian dance competition shone through, and it added a unique and exciting dimension to the evening.

"The Sea - Restaurant and Lounge" is a relatively new establishment, having opened just about two months ago. The restaurant's location within the shopping center is ideal – it's spacious and boasts a modern, edgy, and cool decoration that immediately caught my eye. It was impeccably clean and had a great atmosphere. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the owners and manager were notably attentive.

Now, let's talk about the food. I sampled an appetizer, and my friend ordered the ceviche. The presentation was outstanding, and my friend raved about the ceviche, describing it as well-prepared and delicious.

However, the only hiccup of the evening was the drinks. They took longer than expected to reach our table, and when they did, they weren't quite up to par. In fact, my drink had to be remade because it wasn't prepared correctly. It seemed my friends encountered similar issues.

But, the minor blip with the drinks aside, I left "The Sea - Restaurant and Lounge" with a memorable experience. I was intrigued to learn that the owner is a former member of a Peruvian technocumbia band, known for its top female voices and beautiful performers – a testament to the restaurant's diverse and fascinating background.

I'm eager to return to "The Sea - Restaurant and Lounge" to explore more of their Peruvian dishes. I'm particularly excited to know that they offer salsa lessons on Thursdays and karaoke nights on Fridays, making it the perfect spot for a lively night out. The prices are reasonable, adding to the appeal of this exciting new addition to the Fairfax dining scene.

If you're in the area and looking for a unique dining experience with fantastic Peruvian cuisine and entertainment, don't hesitate to give "The Sea - Restaurant and Lounge" a try – I know I'll be back! 🌊🍽️💃

#TheSeaFairfax #PeruvianCuisine #SalsaNights #KaraokeNights #DeliciousCeviche #ModernDecor #AttentiveStaff #HiddenGem

Update:

I'm delighted to share an update on my recent visit to "The Sea- Restaurant and lounge", a Peruvian restaurant in Fairfax, VA. After my previous visit where I had expressed concerns about the drinks and service, I'm thrilled to report that this time was an entirely different experience. The drinks were expertly prepared and served promptly, addressing the issues I had encountered before.

As always, my friends and I had an exceptional time at The Sea Restaurant. They were equally impressed, not only with the improved drinks but also with the delectable food. They couldn't stop talking about how they would love to return in the future. The atmosphere was nothing short of amazing, with great music that encouraged us to dance and truly enjoy our evening.

It's clear that the restaurant has taken steps to improve coming from the owners and management, and this visit was a testament to their commitment to customer satisfaction. I highly recommend “The Sea- Restaurant and lounge” for a wonderful dining and entertainment experience in...

We do not recommend this restaurant at all. This particular restaurant has an interesting take on some classic Peruvian dishes. Unfortunately, it isn't good and is a terrible value when entrees start at $20 and appetizers start at about $13.

Don't expect a lot of protein for any dishes either, they heavily rely on fillers like rice, potatoes and onions to make up the bulk of the portions.

We're not experts on Peruvian food, but take a dish like Peruvian Arroz Con Pollo. Right off the bat, you imagine a deliciously golden chicken thigh with vibrant and perfectly cooked rice, covered in a bright green spicy, fresh herb blend. What is served here is a small medallion sized piece of chicken over mushy, unseasoned rice. All of that is absolutely covered in absolutely bland dark green sauce that didn't taste like much of anything at all.

The "classic" ceviche was served without chips and peppers, and was absolutely drowned in pool of lime juice, the overly dominant flavor by far. We also were asked about what heat level we'd like and we said "medium". There was no heat at all and the fish was a bit mealy and tasteless, clearly frozen for a while.

Take also horchata, a well-beloved classic rice and cinnamon beverage... Here it is served with some kind of grayish brown foam mixture and either water or milk (you pick). It tastes like almost nothing at first and then degrades into a severely sour aftertaste, as if it had expired. Oh and there's no cinnamon at all.

In regards to service, I will just say that it was quite slow for there being only two occupied tables. Your food will be served one at a time, even as a couple like we were, unless you specify otherwise unlike other restaurants.

Just save your money until things improve here and go explore the better fresh options...

TLDR; food was surprisingly incredible, service was friendly and attentive, atmosphere had The Wharf/DC look and was very clean and well decorated.

I randomly decided to eat here because I was at the laundromat next-door starving. I wasn’t expecting much to be honest considering the location and outside appearance. I was dressed like a bum because I was doing laundry and immediately felt so embarrassed because of how beautiful and well-maintained the inside was. I felt almost rude coming in looking like this. The ambience gave a nice DC restaurant feel. We were immediately greeted and given our menus and water.

Let me just cut to the chase, the food was so surprisingly tasty. I’ve been to many fancy Peruvian restaurants all over Northern Virginia and this one surpassed most of them. We ordered the Arroz chaufa de carne and Tallarin verde con bistec and they were literally the best we’ve ever had.

Considering this restaurant has only been open for six months, it’s worth giving them a chance. Highly highly recommend!

Bonus: karaoke nights on Friday’s and dance classes (bachata, salsa, and merengue) every...